The Pulaski Phillies moved to Paintsville's Central High School Park in 1978, and became the Paintsville Highlanders. The team operated without an MLB parent, serving as a co-op team. The Highlanders drew 16k to the little ballpark & produced their first future MLB player... Kevin Hickey (2-4, 4.00) who would go on to play for the White Sox and Orioles. The team's decent showing caught the interest of one Major League team looking to enter the Appy League, the NY Yankees. This relationship would go on to produce perhaps the best team ever to play at this level (and almost any other). The new Paintsville Yankees would take the field in 1979 and it would be a team to remember.